Monsoons are always special for Kolkata because apart from the culinary delight, the city reaches its cultural crescendo with Monologues, India’s only solo arts festival.
Presented by Phreedom 4 Ever, a leading marketing communication company (founded by Chaity Ghosh), Monologues began in 2012 and have hosted legendary artists like Chapal Bhaduri, Saoli Mitra, Bijoylakshmi Barman, Mahabanoo Modi Kotwal, Mita Vashist and many others.
It is conceptualized and curated by popular arts personality Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee.
He said, “This is a multi-disciplinary approach to blend different forms of talent in one single festival. The journey has been inspiring to say the least and this solo arts fiesta has truly achieved national acclaim.”
Monologues is a pioneer in the Indian arts scene in many ways. One that remains striking is a segment dedicated to youth called The Solo Room, which is usually an off-proscenium act comprising stand-up, poetry slams, music solos and even instrumental singles.
Monologues 2015 shall kick-start on July 25 at Uttam Mancha. Legendary theatre personality Rudra Prasad Sengupta shall flag off the festival with a solo play-reading.
A playwright, an actor, and founder of Nandikar, a leading theatre society in the cultural kaleidoscope of the country, Sengupta shall enthrall the audience with his energy and dramatic overtones.
The Park shall feature actor Riddhi Sen in a theatre act, acclaimed musician Shubhayu Sen Majumder in an Esraj solo followed by Chandrabindoo frontman and filmmaker Anindya in a solo vocal. The closing act happens on July 27th at Gyan Manch with a solo called Untitled, presented by Lushin Dubey, internationally reputed theatre personality from Delhi.
This act is a perfect tribute to gender emancipation—a power-packed closure to the three-day arts ensemble. “This festival is the perfect way to celebrate the singular power in arts, and what can be more delightful than having two stalwarts of theatre open and close the ensemble. As an artist, this is my repayment to my passion and profession”, says Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, artistic director of the festival.
“Monologues is one of the most preferred art mediums to showcase brand and artistic synergy—culture cuts across commerce to lead customer delight and the corporate enhances its message of communication. We at Phreedom 4 Ever believe that Monologues is our tribute to artists in a unique way—the right integration of brand communication,” says Chaity Ghosh, Chief Mentor, Phreedom 4 Ever.